Center for Urban Education teacher candidates work in classrooms/schools as paraprofessionals in the morning and take college coursework in the afternoons.

The Center for Urban Education recruits new populations of diverse and non-traditional teacher candidates and increases their likelihood of completion by:

• Providing first-generation college students and those who have already earned some college credit with academic and financial support. Academic support includes culturally responsive instruction in each course focused on ensuring that each teacher candidate develops competence and confidence to teach in urban classrooms.
• Providing immediate employment opportunities and an affordable education that reduces students’ reliance on debt.
• Building a network of stakeholders and potential employers.  More than 95% of Center for Urban Education graduates are hired when they graduate.

The UNC Center for Urban Education has a lot to offer future educators. Teacher candidates gain valuable hands on experience while working in a classroom as a paraprofessional and there are mentors to support student learning in schools. Students appreciate working in the schools in the morning and then coming to class in the afternoons to discuss experiences with classmates. The content being taught in classes at the Center is relevant and makes students feel more prepared to be successful teachers. There is a sense of family and an amazing vibe to the program where students feel like they are working together to help one another.

UNC is a Carnegie Research Institution, and we train our teacher to be research-practioners.  This includes UNC research libraries, scholarly journals, and support.